Destination Management Plan will put the Central Coast on the map

The Central Coast will become the natural choice for leisure, business and major events in Regional NSW in a new plan developed by Central Coast Council.

Council at its meeting tonight adopted the draft Central Coast Destination Management Plan for public exhibition. The Plan outlines the vision and goals for promoting tourism in the region.

Council Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, said that with the structural change in NSW’s regional tourism network and the establishment of a Central Coast Council, now is the ideal opportunity to set a new strategic direction for tourism on the Coast.

“Tourism is a major industry on the Coast employing over 12,500 people and injecting over $900 million a year for the regional economy, and we believe it can deliver even more,” Mr Reynolds said.

“We have spent a lot of time consulting with the local tourism industry to understand their needs, significantly increased our funding for tourism promotion on the Coast and secured enhanced marketing services from one of the industry’s best providers.

“Last Friday we launched the new office for Destination NSW for the Sydney Surrounds North region in Council’s own Smart Work Hub in Gosford.

“There is more happening now in tourism on the Coast than in the last twenty years.

“With the Destination Management Plan we have the blueprint and vision to ensure the Central Coast is the very best place to live, work and visit.”

The Plan establishes the key goals of:

• Growing the value of the visitor economy by $70 million per annum
• Target dispersed growth mid-week, off-peak and across the Coast
• Leverage natural and built assets to continue to grow core markets
• Above NSW average growth in the value and visitation of target markets
• Growing community support for the tourism industry

The draft Destination Management Plan will be exhibited for 28 days and will be available on Council’s engagement hub www.yourvoiceourcoast.com

Council increases support for beach safety

The Central Coast’s Surf Life Saving Clubs will receive $201,000 annually as part of a three year sponsorship funding agreement with Central Coast Council to help continue their vital beach safety work.

Read Media Release in Full Here

Future of Gosford CBD planning controls to be considered by new Council

Council has endorsed the recommendation to adopt the proposed Gosford Local Environmental Plan (LEP) amendments relating to the Gosford CBD but will request the Department of Planning and Environment and the Minister not finalise their consideration of the matter until the newly elected Council can consider its position on related new Development Control Plan provisions.

The proposed LEP amendments include the creation of two new B3 commercial core zones on street blocks bounded by Henry Parry Drive, Donnison Street, Dane Drive and Georgiana Terrace and the street blocks bounded by Erina Street, Albany Street, Donnison Street and Henry Parry Drive. The B3 Commercial Core between the railway, Erina Street, Henry Parry Drive and Faunce Street is proposed to be rezoned to B4 Mixed Use.

Council Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds said although these amendments were firmly in line with the NSW Government’s Central Coast Regional Plan 2036 which identifies Gosford City as a Regional City for the Central Coast, it was important that the newly elected Council have the opportunity to also consider essential planning for Gosford.

“The revitalisation of Gosford is key to progressing the Central Coast’s southern regional growth corridor enabling job creation by promoting commercial development through public investment and the relocation of public sector employment to the city centre,” Mr Reynolds said.

“It’s a game changer for our region and hence, appropriate for a newly elected Council to also consider this as one of its first priorities.”

The proposed amendments to draft Chapter 4.1 – Gosford City Centre of the draft Gosford Development Control Plan 2013 will be re-exhibited for the purposes of further community consultation for a minimum of 28 days.

Rationalised housing development controls introduced across the Coast

Council has rationalised development controls for dwelling houses, secondary dwellings and ancillary structures as part of creating one simplified development process for residents.

Under the NSW Department of Planning and Environment’s Guidance for merged Councils on planning functions, amalgamated Councils are required to look for differences and inconsistencies in planning controls and implement measures to address their differences.

Council Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, said the community was looking for consistency as well as efficiency in planning rules across the Coast and now they have it.

“This rationalisation of key housing development controls will help reduce development application turn-around times, align terminology, reduce and simplify the information needed, and cut red tape to make it really clear what residents can and cannot build on their property,” Mr Reynolds said.

Council has also rationalised development controls around the notification of development applications (DAs) including how Council will advise of its decisions in relation to public submissions.

“Community input is an important part of the Development Assessment process. It allows the pros and cons of a development to be considered as part of any DA assessment.

“All significant DAs will now be notified for 21 days allowing the community to have more opportunity to have their say in shaping the development in their local community.

“Having a consistent set of controls for housing is a clear benefit of amalgamation, aligns Central Coast Council’s practices with the Department of Planning and Assessment’s Development Assessment Best Practice Guide and, most importantly, delivers a more efficient and reliable outcome for our residents,”

Council commits $1.4 million of funding to partner with community

Central Coast Council has adopted a new community grants and sponsorship funding program for the Coast, giving the community more opportunities to apply for funding to support their community projects, events, programs and initiatives.

Read Media Release in Full Here.

Setting a firm foundation for the newly elected Councillors

Council is well underway to finalising preparations for the newly elected Councillors by adopting a Code of Meeting Practice and Councillor and Expenses and Facilities Policy at tonight’s meeting.

Council is adopting these codes and policies to ensure the newly elected Council can operate from day one. All policies were recently exhibited for community feedback with one submission received.

Council Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, said adopting these codes and practices ensures the newly elected Council can hit the ground running and hold their first meeting to elect the first Mayor of Central Coast Council as soon as possible.

“I believe webcasting has been a successful initiative of this Administration period as has  the fact that meetings are held in alternative Council chambers and that is enshrined in this Code of Meeting Practice.

“The newly elected Council can consider if they wish to amend these codes and policies and any proposed changes would be subject to further community scrutiny and consultation.”

A Code of Conduct for Councillors and staff was referred for a further round of internal consultation.

Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) succession plan in place for Council

Mr Brian Bell PSM, the former General Manager of Lake Macquarie City Council (LMCC) has been appointed to fill the position of Acting CEO should the current CEO Rob Noble leave Council prior to the expiry of his contract.

Council Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, said this appointment would allow the critical work of leading the Executive Leadership Team, managers and staff through the Council merger and business transformation program to continue and would support the new Council following the elections.

“Rob’s original contract with the former Wyong Shire Council was only for six months so he has stayed a lot longer than he originally intended as he wanted to be a part of building a strong and sustainable Central Coast Council,” Mr Reynolds said.

“He has done an amazing job and it is due to his hard work and leadership that this Council has achieved as much as it has.”

“I wanted to ensure that strong leadership and commitment to the success of this Council continues.

“Brian Bell is the best person for the job.  He lives here on the Coast and has led an award-winning Council – Lake Macquarie Council – for a number of years.

“He has the runs on the board and the commitment to continue to make Central Coast Council the very best it can be.”

Mr Bell was recognised on the Australian Honours List 2016 with a Public Service Medal for outstanding service to local government in NSW.  He also comes to Council with an exceptional record of achievement at LMCC, with high levels of both community satisfaction and staff engagement, an AR Bluett Award in 2012 for best performing local government in NSW, and continuous improvement in all key indicators of council performance over his 12 years at LMCC.

Mr Bell is a long-term resident of the Central Coast and knows the area very well.

Mr Bell will be the Acting CEO until the newly elected Council appoints a CEO.